Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
The ventral cavity is a major body cavity located on the anterior (front) aspect of the human body. It includes both the thoracic cavity and abdominopelvic cavity, housing vital organs such as the heart, lungs, and digestive organs.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
The ventral cavity is divided into the thoracic cavity and abdominopelvic cavity.
The thoracic cavity contains the lungs and heart which are protected by the rib cage.
The diaphragm separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominopelvic cavity.
The abdominopelvic cavity houses organs such as the stomach, liver, intestines, and reproductive organs.
The ventral cavity is lined with serous membranes that reduce friction between moving organs.
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Related terms
dorsal_cavity: A major body cavity located on the posterior (back) aspect of the body, containing the cranial and spinal cavities.
thoracic_cavity: A subdivision of the ventral cavity that houses vital organs like the heart and lungs.
abdominopelvic_cavity: A subdivision of the ventral cavity that includes both abdominal and pelvic regions containing digestive and reproductive organs.